desecratedceremonyofmarriagetherehadsecretlybeenbetweenthem，andtheterrorsofwantandshamethathadoverwhelmedthembothwhenIwasfirstappointedtobetheinstrumentoftheirpunishment，andtheloveforshesaidthewordtome，downatmyfeetinwhichshehadabandonedhimandlefthimtome，wasitmyenemythatbecamemyfootstool，weretheythewordsofmywraththatmadehershrinkandquiver!Notuntomethestrengthbeascribed；notuntomethewringingoftheexpiation!’
Manyyearshadcomeandgonesinceshehadhadthefreeuseevenofherfingers；butitwasnoticeablethatshehadalreadymorethanoncestruckherclenchedhandvigorouslyuponthetable，andthatwhenshesaidthesewordssheraisedherwholearmintheair，asthoughithadbeenacommonactionwithher。
’Andwhatwastherepentancethatwasextortedfromthehardnessofherheartandtheblacknessofherdepravity？I，vindictiveandimplacable？Itmaybeso，tosuchasyouwhoknownorighteousness，andnoappointmentexceptSatan’s。Laugh；butI
willbeknownasIknowmyself，andasFlintwinchknowsme，thoughitisonlytoyouandthishalf-wittedwoman。’
’Add，toyourself，madame，’saidRigaud。’Ihavemylittlesuspicionsthatmadameisrathersolicitoustobejustifiedtoherself。’